Larry Holmes is a former American professional boxer known for his unbeatable defence. Holmes is one of only five boxers - along with Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and Trevor Berbick - to defeat Muhammad Ali. Besides, he holds various business, has become sucessful writer and showman.
Background
Holmes was born on November 3, 1949, in a small town of Cuthbert, Georgia, United States, being the fourth of his 11 other siblings. The family moved north to Easton, Pennsylvania, when Larry was six years old. Life was difficult for the family, and Holmes remembers feeling embarrassed by his Salvation Army clothes and humiliated by the family’s dependence on welfare.
Education
Larry dropped out of school in seventh grade.
Career
Larry Homes started working at a local car wash for $1 per hour. He continued to switch jobs from dump truck driver to sand blaster. He also worked at steel factories to support her mother who was struggling to feed her children. However, Holmes was a little bit short of generousness out on streets, he was confident of his fighting capabilities. He was never afraid of getting into a brawl if somebody messed with him. When asked he said, “I used to knock out a guy every weekend.” He projected toughness in the environment and once he knocked every other guy for 40 weekends in a row who dare to cross his path. This cultivated image of a tough guy in the local area but usually he ended up concluding that he can make a great career in boxing with his tall 6 feet 3 inches and 200-pound gigantic stature.
As an amateur boxer, he boxed with Duane Bobick in the trials of 1972 Olympic in his twenty-second bout. Eventually, he was disqualified in the third round as it was Bobick who was trying to corner Holmes by landing several outstanding punches and he continued excessive holding. To improve his skill, he asked Earnee Butler as a personal trainer. Butler was a businessman in Easton who had once fought professionally. Holmes grasp maximum from the training session mad quickly honed skills in the boxing ring winning 19 out of 22 amateur fights.
He compiled an attractive record of 19-3 in amateur boxing and turned professional boxer on March 21, 1973. He won an interesting match against Rodell Dupree after back to back four-round hustle. In his early career, he also worked as a sparring partner for Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Young, and Earnie Shavers. He learned and improved his game along with handling a well-paid career. He said once “I was young, and I didn't know much. But I was holding my own sparring those guys”, he further added, "I thought, 'hey, these guys are the best, the champs. If I can hold my own now, what about later?"
Holmes starts getting the credibility of a contender when he upset hard-punching Earnie Shavers in a tough match in March of 1978. He won that match by a lopsided unanimous decision going to twelve rounds. This triumph on Shavers raised an interesting bout between him and WBC Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton on June 9 of 1978 at Las Vegas. It was a classic match which gets exhausting after extending to a 15 round spectacle but Holmes finally managed to take over Norton and captured his first Heavyweight belt.
Though Holmes managed to retain the crown until September 1983, when he abandoned his title to claim the championship title of newly formed International Boxing Federation. He successfully defended his IBF title thrice and creating a historical streak of 48-0, just 1 wins less of the all-time undefeated Rocky Marciano. On September 21, 1985, Holmes lost to Michael Spinks. He has prompted a bitter retirement after losing again to Spinks six months later in a rematch.
He did keep coming back for professional boxing and claimed three title fights. First was in 1988 when he felled by Mike Tyson in four-round. He lost title bouts to Oliver Mccall and Evander Holyfield. He announced his final retirement in 2002 and finished with a historical overall record of 69-6 including 44 knockouts.
Larry had a great life experience, thus he began to write. He authored his memoir, Larry Holmes: Against the Odds. David Davis, in the New York Times Book Review, appreciated Holmes’s story as “a series of lessons in persistence.” Reviewers praised the book’s account of Holmes’s difficult early life and his determination to succeed.
After retiring from boxing, Holmes concentrated on various business ventures. He speaks proudly of how he developed unused land in a run-down section of Easton, Pennsylvania, and built it into a thriving business complex. His holdings include a disco, a restaurant and lounge, a training and recreation center, a motel, and two office buildings.
(In Larry Holmes, the reader will experience the uplifting...)
1998
Politics
Larry Holmes became the leader of Workers World Party in 2008 and along with that.
He spoke for the rights of immigrants and workers. He observed the Obama’s election. He emphasized and encourages natives of the country to support immigrants and work with them hand in hand. Being a peace lover he led many antiwar movements for maintaining harmony in the country.
Views
Quotations:
"I never tried to be a mercenary or a killer but a hardworking fighter."
"It’s hard being black. You have ever been black? I was black once when I was poor.” These words describe that after he got fame and name what matters was his success. Mind these words failure is an orphan and once a person is successful howsoever he looks like doesn’t matter. Apt words "Everyone praise to rising sun."
Personality
Holmes is a tough person. Determined enough to achieve what he desires. He burned the midnight oil to attain success. He was determined to become a fine boxer. His down to earth nature and humble attitude was an attracting thing about his personality. His words "set your goals and make a commitment to meet those goals. Do the best you can. But never forget your roots; never forget where you came from. After you have succeeded look back and see if there are others that you might help to achieve what you have accomplished". These words are self-explanatory and aptly describes his personality.
Physical Characteristics:
He is 6 feet 3-inch tough-looking man. He has good muscle mass.
Quotes from others about the person
"It was an immense joy to be in the same ring with a great box Holmes. He further added I took it as an opportunity and that boxing match was one among the best matches I fought." - Mike Tyson
Interests
food, sport and self-education
Connections
In 1979, Larry Holmes married Diane Robinson, with whom he had two children. He also has three daughters from two previous relationships.